Maheshwary cleared for Olympics

Triple jumper Renjith Maheshwary has been cleared for Olympics after he passed a fitness trial at his training base in Italy, Athletics Federation of India said.

Woman triple jumper Mayookha Johny and marathoner Ram Singh Yadav are yet to undergo similar trials after the AFI asked them to prove their fitness on the ground that they have not taken part in a competition for some time after qualifying for the London Games.

Fourteen Indians have qualified for London Olympics in track and field events.

AFI Secretary General C K Valson said that Maheshwary has undergone a fitness trial in Italy and the federation is satisfied that he can take part in London Games.

"He has done a trial jump and came up with a 16.45m in nine strides at his training base in Italy, the day before yesterday (Monday). We have got the report and he has been cleared to take part in the Olympics," Valson said.

Interestingly, the AFI selection committee met on Monday and decided to send all the 14 athletes to the Olympics subject to their fitness.

The committee decided to ask the trio to undergo a trial to assess their fitness reportedly on the insistence of the two government observers present at the meeting.

Maheshwary confirmed from his training base at Forli near Milan that he has been cleared to take part in the Olympics after undergoing a fitness trial.

"My coach has sent the report and I have been cleared to take part in the Olympics. I am now looking forward to the Olympics," he said.

National record holder Maheshwary had qualified for London Olympics after he exactly touched the 'B' qualification standard with a jump of 16.85m at the Federation Cup in Patiala in April.

Valson said that a similar fitness trial will also be held in case of national record triple jumper Mayookha at his training base in Germany.

"She will also have to undergo a fitness trial and it will be done in four or five days not longer than that," he said.

Regarding Yadav, who has expressed his desire to undergo the fitness trial at his current high altitude training base at Ooty, Valson said, "Ooty does not have a synthetic track.

He can do his trial in Coimbatore or Bangalore. He can do the trial after July 20 according to his coach's desire."

Yadav has been asked by the AFI to undergo the fitness trial by running a 10 km race at the SAI Centre in Bangalore but he said he wants to do it at his training base in Ooty.